Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea, it is likely that the condition is having a negative impact upon your health, your work, and your personal life. The ongoing pauses in breathing over your hours of sleep leave a person feeling dull and tired. Many people are unaware that they suffer from sleep apnea unless they share a bed with a partner, who is often awakened by the snoring, coughs, and snorts as the breath starts and stops, which can occur many times every hour.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are two common types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: In this form of the condition, the breathing airway collapses or becomes blocked while sleeping, leading to shallow breathing or pauses in breathing, with a sudden intake of breath. When sucking in air through the blocked airway, the vibration creates the snoring sound. While this type of sleep apnea is more common in those with excess weight, it can affect any person of any age, including children.

Central Sleep Apnea: This is a less common form of the condition, and related to the brain signals that trigger breathing. This condition can occur in people taking certain medications, or occur in combination with obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, your first step is a full examination to determine the correct treatment for the condition. Sleep breathing masks that push air into the airways were once the standard treatment, but are uncomfortable and unwieldy.

Dental Devices to Resolve Sleep Apnea

Dental devices are now available to treat sleep apnea, and are far more gentle, easy to wear, comfortable, and can resolve the condition without the need for invasive surgery. In some cases, surgery may be necessary for cases in which the lower jaw is misaligned. At our practice, we seek out the most effective, non-invasive treatments for sleep apnea. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our Pasadena dentist today.